Swine Pseudorabies Factsheet

WHAT IS SWINE PSEUDORABIES? disease. Options may include depopulation or repeated Pseudorabies, also known as “Aujeszky’s Disease”, is a testing and removal of infected or incubating animals highly contagious viral disease found in swine. The virus until the herd is disease free. is capable of infecting most domestic and wild mammals including cattle, sheep, goats, cats and dogs. Horses may REPORTING PSEUDORABIES become infected as well, though it is rare. The TAHC should be notified of all suspected and confirmed cases of swine pseudorabies within 24 hours Swine pseudorabies does not affect humans and meat of diagnosis. Reports can be made to any TAHC region from infected animals is safe for human consumption. office or the TAHC Central Office at 1-800-550-8242. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM Within 24 to 36 hours after exposure to the virus, infected Though the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has piglets can develop central nervous system signs, high declared all U.S. commercial swine operations free of fevers, respiratory distress, vomiting, convulsions, and pseudorabies, the USDA and TAHC continue to enforce high mortality rates. Death can occur in less than three regulations designed to prevent potential introduction days. and spread of the disease, as it is still prevalent in the Older swine may simply develop short term flu-like wild hog population. symptoms with low mortality rates. Infected sows may TAHC regulations outline the requirements for abort or absorb their fetuses. Even after recovery, swine movement, testing, identification, record keeping, and with a latent infection may intermittently shed the virus surveillance. For more information about the TAHC causing future disease outbreaks in the herd. pseudorabies regulations, visit: https:// bit.ly/3jKFtNm. TRANSMISSION Swine producers may also participate in the optional Pseudorabies is primarily transmitted from infected TAHC swine pseudorabies qualified free status program. swine through direct, nose-to-nose, contact. Venereal Validation status may allow animals to be moved with transmission is possible and prevalent amongst the feral fewer regulatory restrictions, increase marketability, and swine population. Piglets may also be infected prior to reduce concern of disease presence for herd breeding birth. animals. For more information about the herd validation process contact the TAHC Program Records Department Under favorable conditions, the virus can survive for at 512-719-0777. several days in contaminated bedding and/or water. Widespread viral contamination enables the disease to PREVENTION move quickly through a herd. Thus, once the virus has There are a variety of on-the-farm practices animal entered a population, it continues to circulate indefinitely owners can take to protect their swine and to reduce the until a successful eradication plan is established. risk of disease exposure. DIAGNOSIS Preventing contact with feral swine is of the utmost Swine pseudorabies is detected through blood sample importance, since the disease is known to be in the collection and laboratory confirmation. feral swine population. Producers should maintain good fences and surveillance on their property to decrease the Regular swine testing is required for sexually intact risk of feral swine coming in contact with their animals. swine, six months or older, going through change of Swine owners should also strive to keep a “closed” herd by ownership and the Texas Animal Health Commission only purchasing swine from validated pseudorabies free (TAHC) works in coordination with the Department of herds. It is also best practice to isolate newly acquired State Health Services to test breeding-aged animals at animals from the rest of the herd for 30 days to prevent state-monitored slaughter facilities. disease introduction, and it is encouraged to test those If swine pseudorabies is detected in a domestic swine animals at that time. Testing is also encouraged when herd, the premises will be quarantined and the TAHC utilizing breeding boars. will work with the animal owner to clear the herd of the